Car ladder



Aus. 25, 1931.

CAR LADDER Filed Sept. 24. 1929 z sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 25, 1931. J. J.'rAruM 1,820,848

cm LADDER Filed Sept. 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Patented Aug. 25, 1931UNITED STATES orifice can minneny Applicationv led September 24,1929(Serial No. 394,853.

The object of my invention is to provide a collapsible car ladder thatcan be assem bledwithout riveting the rungs to the Stiles.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible ladder, thetop rung of which functions as a holding bracket for securing it to thecar, the lower ends of the Stiles beingl deflected for securin to thecar; and with these and other o jects in view my invention consists ofthe parts and combination ofV parts hereinafter set forth.

VIn the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ladder embodying myinvention attached to a car. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is-a side elevation of a ladder stile embodying my invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the top portion of my ladder.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail top plan view of the top bracket with oneofthe stiles attached thereto.

The reference numeral 1 designates a part of a car structure. The toprung 2 of the 25 ladder is dellected at its ends from its longitudinalaXis to form stile bearings 3 and is then bent (or otherwise suitablyformed) rearwardly as at 4, and thenupwardly as at 5, saidportions beingprovided With a lrivet or bolt openingand forming attaching eyes `ormembers 6. f

The ladder stiles 7 are identical in construction, therefore adescription of one will suflice. The Stile 7 is preferably made fromcommercially formed angles, preferably L Vshape in cross section andthese flanges are pressed, rolled, or otherwise superposed one on theother at the top and bottom end portions as indicated at 8 and 9, thetop por-V tion being turned to form hooks 1() designed to engage thebearings 3 on the top rung, the bottom portions being deflectedrearwardly to form the lsecuring brackets 11 which are secured to thecar structure by the r rivets or bolts 12. The deflections 9 and thearms 4 of the toprung hold the ladder on the car spaced from the'car therequired distance between the side of the car and` the ladder rung asprescribed `by the United States Federal safety appliance law.

lEach stileis provided withv square rung holes 13 and round rung holes14 arranged in alternating arrangement, so that when the two Stiles arearranged for assembly, a round hole 14 in one stile is directly oppositea square hole 13 inl the other stile. The stiles are laced together withcarriagebolts functioning as rungs 15, that is to say, headed bolts withone end rectangular, and the other end cylindrical, the rectangular endof the bolt fitting snugly in'the rectangular rung hole 13 in one stile,while the cylin# drical end of the bolts is seated in the cylindricalopening 14 ofthe opposite stile, the rectangular end of the rung l5locking the rung against rotation when being used by the trainmen. Tohold the rungs from becoming accidentally disengaged from the stiles Ibend the end of the rung to form a lock or stop 16. ,70

By removing the fastenings 11 at the lower `ends of the Stiles theladder can be lifted from the combined top rung and holding bracket 2and readily replaced in the same way should the ladder become damaged atany time.

My improved ladder is one that is easy to assemble, simple and cheap tomanufacture, and because of its collapsible feature is less bulky tostore and ship, and less dilicult to assemble and place on the car thanthe conventional ladders in general use.

As shown in the enlarged detail View F igure 5 the combined bracket andtop rung is flat at itsr outer ends over which the hooks on the ladderStiles iit, while that portion between the ladder stiles is round.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, in a car ladder, a combined top rung and spacing andholding bracket, Stiles slidably mounted on said rung, and means to holdthe Stiles in spaced relation on said rung.

2. In a collapsible car ladder, in combination, .a top rung havingoffset end portions,

yhanging brackets extending from said end portions, stiles, hooks at theupper ends of the stiles slidably mounted on said rung and designed toengage Said offset ends when in operative position, said stiles eachhave n i 1,820,848

ing alternatel round and rectangular rung holes, headed rungs having arectangular end and a round end designed to engage said rung holes, anextension on the round end of the rung positioned at an angleto thelongitudinal axis of the rung, and a securing extension at theilower endof each stile.

3. In a car ladder,/av combined upperl ladder suspending rung andattaching bracket K;

comprising a rod or bar having end portions bent to form attachingmembersfor'fattach-A Y" vment to the side of a car to hold the baryspaced therefrom, and having recessed stile I i suspending offsetsbetween*` said .attaching end portions, and a ladder having its stilesprovidedat their upper ends .with supporting members engagingsaidrecesses.v LpIn a car ladder, a combined upper lad# der suspendingrung and attaching bracket j-.comprising a rod or bar having endportions bent to form attaching members .for attacht ment to the side ofa Ycar to hold the bar spaced therefrom, and having recessednstilelsuspending offsets between said attaching end portions, and a vladderhaving its stiles provided at their upper ends with hooks detachablyengaging said recesses and suspendf ing the ladder therefrom. A V vIntestimony whereof I afliX my signature.

3a s. JOHYNJLTATUM. I

